Striker handed Villa exit deadline

Aston Villa will reportedly give want-away striker Christian Benteke until early August to try and secure a big-money move elsewhere.

The 22-year-old Belgium international rocked the club at the start of this week when he handed in a transfer request after just one season at Villa Park in which he bagged an impressive 23 goals.

Benteke was signed in a £7million deal from Genk 12 months ago and Villa are now looking to bring in around £25million before they will consider allowing him to depart for pastures new.

No clubs have made an offer to sign Benteke yet but Premier League rivals Tottenham are believed to be very interested in taking the player to White Hart Lane as their boss Andre Villas-Boas is short on attacking options.

Villa are keen for the situation to be resolved as quickly as possible in order for it not to distract the rest of the first-team squad from their Premier League preparations.

Therefore Spurs, or any other interested party, will have around three weeks to meet Villa’s valuation or Benteke could end up having to stay put and continue serving out the remaining three years on his contract.